Machine for loading rubber-heel blanks with washers



- Jun; 15 1926.

v. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS Original FiledMy s, 1925' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' Ivar mafia 225' June 15 1926. 1,588,594

V. R. LAWSON ET Al.

MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH'WASHERS Original Filed May 8, 1923 4 Sheet's-Sheet 2 llllll flliiilfi-lz--.

I l l June 15, 1926.

- 1,588,594 v. R. LAWSON ETAL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS Original Filed May 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 15 1926. I 1,588,594

- v. R. LAWSON ET AL MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 15,1926.

; UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR R. LAWSON, OF BOSLINDALE, AND JOHN J. B ATTERMAN, OF DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID BATTERMAN ASSIGNOR TO JOHN J. IDALY, OF NEWTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

I MACHINE FOR LOADING RUBBER-HEEL BLANKS WITH WASHERS.

Original applioationiiled Kay 8, 1923, Serial No. 637,526. Divided and this applicati 24, 1925. Serial No. 64,542.

A rubber heel of the common commercial form has a number of washers embedded in the body thereof, these washers being designed to support the heads of the nails,

screws, or other fastenings by means of which the heel will be secured to a shoe. These washers may be either flat or concaved and they distribute the strain exerted by the fastenings over. a. greater part of the body of the heel than otherwise would be the case.

The present invention relates to machines for feedin washers of this character, and

it is a division of our co-pending application, $erial Noi-'637,526, filed May 8, 1923.

' The machine shown in the application above designated is intended primarily for loading rubber heel blanks with washers preparatory to molding and vulcanizing these blanks to produce finished heels. The machine includes means for forcing the de sired number of washers into a blank, and a mechanism for sorting and delivering the washers to said means. The present invention involves the washer handling mechanism and it provides an apparatus of this character which will automatically select Washers from a mass and deliver a predetermined number to a given point. While the invention is especially concerned with the production of a washer feeding mechanism adapted for use in a machine of the general character shown in our application above designated, it' is contemplated that the invention may also be used to advantage in other relationships, as, for example, in machines for loading molds with washers.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection withthe accompanying drawings, and the novel. features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation-of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa cross sectional plan view of one of the washer hoppers;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4, Fig. 3;

- die block 2 and a series of on I filed October Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a' portion of Fig. 3

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts at a subsequent point in the washer feeding operation;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View on the line Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 9-9, Fig. 4; and

vention. Referring to Figs. 1

and 2, it will be seen that the machine comprises an upper die block 2 and a lower die block 3, with a feed plate 24 located between them.

This feed plate is mounted to rotate intermittently ona shaft 31, Fig. provided with cavities spaced apart by equal 2, and it is distances to receive the rubber heel blanks or biscuits which are to be loaded with washers. The feed plate is rotated'step by step by a Geneva movement which is, driven from a shaft 38, Fig. 2, this shaft, in turn,

being driven by a bevel gear connection 40 with a driving shaft 21, carrying a pulley 22.

The washer feeding mechanism delivers a predetermined numberof washers to the lungers 7 force these washers into a rub er heel blank which is positionedbetween the die blocks 2 and 3 by the feed late 24. The feed plate next moves the loa ed blank away from the dies and discharges it, and at the same time delivers another blank to the dies in' readiand connected through tubes or chutes 52 an sides of the upper die block washer delivery 53 to the opposite 2. Four of these tubes or chutes lead from each hopperso that eight washers or a smaller number may be delivered substantially simultaneously to the die block. Inasmuch as the normally rest in the lower' part of the hopper. Mounted closely against the bottom 55 of the hopper is a selector plate 56 having a series of radial slots 57 formed in its edge, these slots being of a width-to receive the Washers W. The margin of the selector plate 56 is of about the thickness of a washer, while the central portion thereof is somewhat thicker, and this plate is secured fast on the end of an inclined shaft 60. i

'As the selector plate 56 rotates slowly through the tumbled mass of washers,- the slots 57 will be more or less completely filled by washers arranged edge to edge, as shown inv Fig. 3, each slot being long enough to hold four washers. As the slots swing upwardly, the washers drop by gravity toward the inner ends of the slots, and they finally come to a position, as shown at the right of Figs. 3 and 5, over apertures 62 which are formed through the bottom plate 55 of the hopper and constitute the mouths of the washer chutes or tubes 52 These openings or mouths 62,- however, are closed at this instant by a shutter or plate 63 which sets into the plate 55 flush therewith, and on which the washers are supported at this time. This shutter has a shank 64, and both the shutter anddts shank are located in a recess formed in the plate 55, as best shown in Fig.

- 4. i The shutter normally is held in its closed position by means of a spring 65.

It will be observed that the slots 57 are arranged in groups of-four, and that they are so spaced that the innermost washer in all four slots of any group will register with the mouths 62 simultaneously. When the parts reach this relationship, the shutter is drawn backwardly far enough to uncover the openings 62, thus causing the washers resting on the shutter to drop into the chutes 52 For the purpose of moving the shutter backwardly to open it at the desired points in the rotation of the selector plate 56, a

' cam plate 66 is secured to the shank 64 by means of a. screw 67. The selector plate 56 carriesa series of studs or rolls 68, one for each group of slots 57, and these studs or chine.

rolls are arranged to engage the inclined face of the cam 66 and force this cam backwardly, as best shown in Fig. 6. The shutter'63 moves with the cam 66 and consequently is opened by the travel of each roll 68 past the cam. As soon as the roll leaves the cam the spring 65 immediately closes the shutter again.

I In order to prevent more than one washer being discharged into each washer tube at a time, a guard plate 70 is mounted in the hopper on posts 7171 in a position parallel to the wall of the hopper and with its lower edge extending down to the selector plate 56. The upper end of the guard 70 is curved inwardly slightly, as indicated at 72, Figs. 3 and 5, so that as the washers are carried past this guard by the selector plate, the innermost washer in each slot 57 will pass on the inner side of the guard, while 'all the other washers will becompelled to pass on the outer side thereof. Consequently, when the shutter is opened, only those washers on the inner side of the guard can drop into the mouths of the chutes. 1;

Two kinds ofwashers are commonly used in rubber heels, namely, a flat washer and a dished or concave washer. \Vhen the latter kind is used, it is important that the washers be presented to the loading mechanism with their concave sides all facing in one direction; in this instance with their concave faces up. The selector plate of the mechanism above described is so thin in the neighborhood ofthe slots57 that it will only carry a concave washer in its inverted position, as shown at W, Fig. 10, but it will reject or fail to convey a washer with its concave side uppermost, as indicated at W Fig. 10. All

the washers brought around to the shutter 63, therefore, are in their inverted positions, as shown in Fig. 7; This shutter is slowly drawn backwardly in the manner above described, so that support for each washer is first withdrawn from under the outer edge of each Washer. It will therefore tip clown- Wardly into the chute 52 with its concave side inwardly toward the center of the ma- It will be understood that the washer is moved forward continuously while the shutter is. opening, but that the long slot which forms the mouth of the chute atl'ords ample time for the washer to drop into it, this construction giving the effect of a dwell in the movement of the selector plate. It should also be noted that there is a slight clearance between the outer edge of the slot 62 and the outer edge of theshutter when the shutter is in its closed position. This is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and this arrangement produces the advantage of preventing the shutter from closing on a washer which is just toppling into the mouth of the chute and preventing the complete discharge of the washer. The chutes or tubes 52 are made of rectangular cross section and so thin that it is impossible for the washer to turn over'after it has entered a tube, but the tubes.are so curved that they turn the washers right side up before they deliver them to the loading mechanism.

Flat washers do not present the same difliculty encountered in handling concave washers, but both can be handled with equal fa-- control the additional chute or chutes.

These changes in design will be obvious. When a smaller number than four is to be delivered by one feeding mechanism, the position of the cam 66 is changed to advance the opening of the shutter and thus to pre vent the discharge of washers into one or more of the chutes.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 5,-it will be observed that the shank 64 is provided with two sockets 74 and 75 to receive the head of the screw 67 in addition to the socket in which this screw is located in these figures. If the cam 66 is moved backwardlylwith reference to the direction of rotation of the selector plate) and clamped by the screw 67 with the head located in the socket 75, the shutter then will be opened when'the foremost slot 57 in each group reaches the third chute mouth 62. Consequently, the fourth chute, which in this instance is the lowermost chute in Fig. 5, will not receive a washer. Three washers only will be delivered, therefore, at each opening of the shutter. If the cam 66 is moved back one more notch, with its screw 67 located in the socket 74, the two rearmost chutes only will receive washers, as will readily be appreciated. This simple adjustment; therefore, enables the operator to vary the number of washers delivered at will within the limits for which the machine is designed.

- The shafts -60 of the two washer feeding mechanisms have mitre gear connections with a horizontal shaft 80, Figs. 1 and 2,

which is driven through a bevel gear connection 81 with the vertical shaft 38 previously referred to.

The lower ends of the washer tubes 52 and 53 are secured, respectively, in thefixed plates 78 and 79, Fig. 1, at the opposite sides of the upper die block. These tubes open directh into washer passages formed in the opposite sides of the upper die block, and these passages lead to the respective holes in which the lungers 7 are mounted. In the machine s own, gates are provided. at

p the discharge ends of the chuts,and these nections gates are normally closed so that they stop the washers temporarily while the plungers are moved into a predetermined position, preparatory to'performing the loading operation. The gates are then opened by conith the plunger mechanism and the washers slide through the passages in the die block into position to be forced into the heel blank by the plungers.

It will 'now'be appreciated that tHis invention-provides a mechanism which is entirely automatic in its operation and is readily adjustable so that it will deliver any desired number of washers within the limits for which the machine is designed. It-is simply necessary for the attendant to keep the hoppers 50 and 51 supplied with washers, but otherwise the mechanism re'-' quires no attention. The mechanism has proved in practice to be very accurate and extremely reliable.

' -While we have herein shown and described the best embodiment of our invention that'we have so far devised, it will be evident that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire'to claim as new is 1. In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass of washers, a chute leading from the bottom of said hopper, a shutter normally closing the mouth of said chute, a selector operative to take washers from said mass and posi tion them. for discharge into said mouth, and mechanism for opening said shutter to permit the discharge of a washer so positioned.

2. In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass of washers a chute leading from the bottom of said hopper, a shutter normally closing the mouth of said chute, a rotary selector operative to select washers from said mass and transfer them on to said shutter in" position to be discharged into said'mouth,-and means arranged to be actuated by the movement of said selector for opening said shutter to per- 3. In amachin of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass of concave washers, a plurality of chutes leading 'mit thedisch arge of a washer so positioned. I

from said hopper, and means for selecting a v iii loottom of said hopper and having a thin marginal portion provided with a slot to receive a plurality of Washers, mechanlsm for rotating said selector plate, said slot being arranged to cause the washers therein to slide toward the inner end thereof as the slot rotates up said incline, a washer chute leading from said hopper and arranged to receive a washer delivered thereto by said slot, and a guard arranged to permit one washer only in said slot to be discharged into said chute.

5.- In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprislng a hopper adapted to contain a mass of washers and having an inclined bottom, a selector plate mounted to rotate in contact with the bottom of said hopper and having a thin marginal portion provided with a slot to receive a plurality of washers, mechanism for rotating said selector plate, said slot being arranged to cause the washers therein to slide toward the inner end thereof as the slot rotates up said incline, a Washer chute leading from said hopper and arranged to receive a washer delivered thereto by saidslot, a shutter Iiormally closing the mouth of-saidl chute, mechanism for opening said shutter to permit a washer in said slot to enter said chute, and means for preventing the other washers in said slot from entering I i said chute.

6. In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass of washers, a plurality of chutes leading from said hopper, and means for simultaneously delivering one washer to each of a plurality of said chutes.

7. In a machine of the character described, awasher feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass of washers, a plurality of chutes leading from said hopper, and means for delivering a washer to each chute substantially simultaneously.

8. In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass of washers, a plurality of chutes leading from said hopper, and a selector mounted to'rotate washers to each of said chutes.

9. In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a. mass of washers, a plurality of chutes leading from said hopper, means in said hopper operative to deliver washers to said chutes, and a shutter controlling the discharge of said washers into said chutes.

10. In a] machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted tov contain a mass of. washers, a plurality of chutes leading from said hopper, a selector plate mounted to rotate in the bottom of said hopper, means for rotating said plate, a shutter for closing the mouth of said chutes, said selector plate being operative to present washers simultaneously in position to be discharged into said chutes, and means for opening said shutter when said washers are so positioned.

11. In a machine of the character described, a washer feeding mechanism comprising a hopper adapted to contain a mass ,in said hopper and operative to present of washers, a plurality of chutes leading names to this specification.

VICTOR R. LAWSON. JOHN J. BATTERMAN. 

